Bottom Line:
After controlling for socio-demographic covariates, compared to Other Hispanics (reference group), very few differences in perceptions of health care providers communication emerged across ethnic subgroups.Both Puerto Ricans (OR = 2.28, 95% CI 1.06-4.92) and Mexicans (OR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.02-3.46) were more likely to indicate that their health care provider "always" spent enough time with them as compared to Other Hispanics.While our findings somewhat contradict previous research, they do suggest that other underlying factors may influence the quality of perceived interactions with health care providers.

Affiliation: University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. lwallace@mc.utmck.edu

ABSTRACT

Background: Recent research suggests that ethnic subgroup designation plays an important role in health-related disparities among Hispanics. Our objective was to examine the influence of Hispanics' self-reported ethnic subgroup designation on perceptions of their health care providers' communication behaviors.

Results: After controlling for socio-demographic covariates, compared to Other Hispanics (reference group), very few differences in perceptions of health care providers communication emerged across ethnic subgroups. Puerto Ricans were more likely to report that their health care provider "always" showed respect for what they had to say (OR = 2.16, 95% CI 1.16-4.03). Both Puerto Ricans (OR = 2.28, 95% CI 1.06-4.92) and Mexicans (OR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.02-3.46) were more likely to indicate that their health care provider "always" spent enough time with them as compared to Other Hispanics.

Conclusions: We observed very few differences among Hispanics respondents in their perceived quality of interactions with health care providers as a function of their ethnic subgroup designation. While our findings somewhat contradict previous research, they do suggest that other underlying factors may influence the quality of perceived interactions with health care providers.

Figure 1: Percentage of respondents with a self-reported usual source of care, by ethnic subgroup, reporting that their healthcare provider "always" asked them to help make health care decisions and showed respect for treatments.

Mentions:
As displayed in Figure 1 and Table 2, between a third and two-thirds of Hispanic respondents reported that their healthcare provider "always" listened to them carefully, explained things so that they understood, and showed respect for what they had to say. Collectively, respondents were less inclined to indicate that their healthcare provider "always" spent enough time with them. Among those with a USC, approximately 50-60% of respondents overall reported that their healthcare provider "always" asked them to help make healthcare decisions and showed respect for treatments (see Figure 2 and Table 2).

Figure 1: Percentage of respondents with a self-reported usual source of care, by ethnic subgroup, reporting that their healthcare provider "always" asked them to help make health care decisions and showed respect for treatments.

Mentions:
As displayed in Figure 1 and Table 2, between a third and two-thirds of Hispanic respondents reported that their healthcare provider "always" listened to them carefully, explained things so that they understood, and showed respect for what they had to say. Collectively, respondents were less inclined to indicate that their healthcare provider "always" spent enough time with them. Among those with a USC, approximately 50-60% of respondents overall reported that their healthcare provider "always" asked them to help make healthcare decisions and showed respect for treatments (see Figure 2 and Table 2).

Bottom Line:
After controlling for socio-demographic covariates, compared to Other Hispanics (reference group), very few differences in perceptions of health care providers communication emerged across ethnic subgroups.Both Puerto Ricans (OR = 2.28, 95% CI 1.06-4.92) and Mexicans (OR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.02-3.46) were more likely to indicate that their health care provider "always" spent enough time with them as compared to Other Hispanics.While our findings somewhat contradict previous research, they do suggest that other underlying factors may influence the quality of perceived interactions with health care providers.

Affiliation:
University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. lwallace@mc.utmck.edu

ABSTRACT

Background: Recent research suggests that ethnic subgroup designation plays an important role in health-related disparities among Hispanics. Our objective was to examine the influence of Hispanics' self-reported ethnic subgroup designation on perceptions of their health care providers' communication behaviors.

Results: After controlling for socio-demographic covariates, compared to Other Hispanics (reference group), very few differences in perceptions of health care providers communication emerged across ethnic subgroups. Puerto Ricans were more likely to report that their health care provider "always" showed respect for what they had to say (OR = 2.16, 95% CI 1.16-4.03). Both Puerto Ricans (OR = 2.28, 95% CI 1.06-4.92) and Mexicans (OR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.02-3.46) were more likely to indicate that their health care provider "always" spent enough time with them as compared to Other Hispanics.

Conclusions: We observed very few differences among Hispanics respondents in their perceived quality of interactions with health care providers as a function of their ethnic subgroup designation. While our findings somewhat contradict previous research, they do suggest that other underlying factors may influence the quality of perceived interactions with health care providers.